David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the Israeli president's visit to Australia, as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in the name of Senator Waters, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the Israeli president's visit to Australia.

It's hard to express just how disgraceful the government's invitation to Israel's President Herzog is. They know it will inflame community divisions and they know it will call into question our government's commitment to international law and human rights, and they just don't care. We've seen the photo of President Herzog signing bombs that were sent into Gaza. He's accused by a UN commission of inquiry of inciting genocide. That's not just a slogan that you don't like; it's the active facilitation of the mass murder of tens of thousands of Palestinian adults and children and of unimaginable harm and sorrow for the hundreds of thousands injured and the millions that love them.

The UN independent international commission of inquiry found that President Herzog made statements that incited the commission of genocide. On 13 October 2023, President Isaac Herzog stated:

It's an entire nation out there that is responsible. It is not true, this rhetoric about civilians who were not aware and not involved. It is absolutely not true.

That's what he said. That isn't just inflammatory rhetoric. What Herzog was calling for is collective punishment, and there is a reason it is illegal and a war crime. That appalling statement was also cited before the International Court of Justice as demonstrating genocidal intent on the part of Israel. What the hell is Labor doing inviting someone like that to Australia? They talk big about stopping hate at our borders, using ministerial powers to refuse visas, but then send a special invite to Herzog. It shows what they really mean.